Submission from Mr Peter Williams, Turks
and Caicos Islands
During your enquiry in Turks & Caicos, I
am convinced it would be worthwhile to look into government contracts
awarded to the Premier's family, including his wife. It seems,
eg, that the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board is being used as
a slush fund to funnel government funds to companies owned by
the First Lady—and by extension, the Premier himself.
The Tourist Board's budget was $2.3 million
in 2003, the last year of the previous government's term. Last
year, the Board went through $9.9 million. During that period,
it is said that tourist arrivals rose from 165,000 in 2003, to
$200,000 last year. The 200,000 figure is only a guestimate, as
unlike in 2003 when there was a statistics department, today there
is no such thing.
Millions have gone into the Annual Jazz Festival,
the Annual Film Festival and now they are inaugurating the Annual
Gospel Festival. These are all promoted by the Premier's wife's
company. We are not a music destination, we have no film industry—the
First Lady is an actress, and we do not need an annual gospel
festival with high-priced gospel stars from the US. Again, these
events cost the taxpayers millions of dollars—only a tiny
fraction of the costs is recovered from ticket sales. The government,
through the Tourist Board picks up the rest.
In Grand Turk, there is a major real estate
development project, involving a gated community with high-priced
homes to be sold to foreigners. The project is being built on
what used to be crown land, now deeded to a member of the Premier's
family. This is in the Breezy Brae area of the island.
There is another major contract in Grand Turk,
involving the grant of crown land. This is a conch farm, to be
a tourist attraction, and the principals—all government
supporters—include a government back bencher, and a supporter
that ran and lost a few times for the current governing party.
Also worth looking into, is how the Premier,
who came to office not a wealthy person, was able to build a multi-million
dollar home, before completing his first four-year term. It is
allegded that Johnston International, the contractors, built the
mansion with plans to recover their costs from the hospital contract
awarded by the government. The two hospitals are to be built at
more than twice the cost of a similar facility now being built
in the BVI.
Incidentally, the premier is paid $10,000 monthly
by TCIG to live in his own home.
5 October 2007
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